Common Name: Wood Dog Violet

General Information

Viola reichenbachiana is a herbaceous perennial that can form a dense mat of growth up to 15cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Known Hazards

All members of this genus have more or less edible leaves and flower buds, though those species with yellow flowers can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities[, , ]. The flowers of this species are blue.

Botanical References

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Range

Europe - Sweden to Spain, east to Ukraine and Greece; W. Asia - Turkey; N. Africa - Morocco, Algeria the Caucasus and Himalayas.

Habitat

Woods, hedgebanks etc, usually on calcareous soils[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.10 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a cool moist well-drained humus-rich soil in partial or dappled shade and protection from scorching winds. Tolerates sandstone and limestone soils but becomes chlorotic if the pH is too high. Prefers a pH between 6 and 6.5[].
Closely related to Viola riviniana[].
All members of this genus have more or less edible leaves and flower buds, though those species with yellow flowers can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities[, , ].

Edible Uses

Young leaves and flower buds - raw or cooked[]. When added to soup they thicken it in much the same way as okra[, ]. Some caution is advised if the plant has yellow flowers since these can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities[].

A tea can be made from the leaves[].

Medicinal

The plant is used as a pectoral in the treatment of chest complaints[], including tubercular problems[]. It is also used to treat cholera[].

The stems, leaves and flowers are bruised and applied to foul sores and wounds[]. They are also used to treat bites and stings[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown in the autumn in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in early spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer.
Division in the autumn or just after flowering. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, though we have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.